Marketing, advertising & media intelligence

Saatchi & Saatchi New Zealand has announced a new head of planning, with David McIndoe returning to the agency.

His experience in the industry spans back to 2004, with his previous position as planning director of WhybinTBWA lasting two years. Throughout his career McIndoe has amassed over 25 Effies, including nine golds and a coveted Cannes Black Lion for Effectiveness.

Saatchi & Saatchi managing director Paul Wilson said the agency is excited to have McIndoe rejoin the agency.

“He’s a proven strategic leader, who’s driven effectiveness across a wide range of categories and channels. He’s also the perfect cultural fit for both our team and clients. It’ll be great to be working with him again.”

Whybin is currently on the hunt for a replacement for McIndoe.

Back to where it began

Tower Insurance has a new of head of marketing in Fiona Woolley.

​Woolley takes on the role after five years as Audi’s head of marketing and her move sees her return to where she got her first job as a marketing assistant.

She said she is looking forward to building on the great work that’s already being done there, however, she admits she won’t be able to switch off her love of cars, particularly those sporting the four rings.

“I think the Audi dealerships will be seeing quite a bit of me. I might have to start a motoring blog so that I can maintain a legitimate reason to continue playing with cars and staying in touch with the team and I’m looking forward to attending Audi ice experience at some point as a guest rather than a host.”

Audi is on the lookout for a replacement.

Exciting times ahead

Gladeye has a new director strategy and business development in the shape of Sunil Unka, who joins the company in the new role.

Unka arrives from Ecostore, where he worked as the export sales and marketing manager for one year.

Prior to this, he held roles at Auckland Tourism, Moa Brewing company, Air New Zealand and Hockey New Zealand.

Taking the lead

Dentsu Aegis Network has appointed Kathy Geick as the managing director of MKTG to lead its lifestyle marketing agency in New Zealand.

​Geick joins from Mango, where she held the role of general manager for two years.

CEO of Dentsu Aegis Network New Zealand Rob Harvey said he is “thrilled” to have been able to attract someone of Kathy’s calibre.

“We have big ambitions for MKTG to redefine the lifestyle marketing space and I have every confidence that Kathy’s drive and experience will lead MKTG to great success.

“Kathy has a reputation for down-to-earth, strategic and commercially-minded leadership as well as a track record for building culture and cultivating talent. These are the qualities we look for in a leader and I am confident the MKTG team and its clients will thrive under Kathy’s direction.”

Gieck is excited by the opportunity.

“For me personally and professionally, it’s the ideal scenario of embarking on an entrepreneurial adventure while also being propelled and supported by the Dentsu Aegis Network and our global MKTG colleagues. I feel a bit like I’ve won career Lotto.”

A pair of movers

Mango Communications has new appointments with Sean Brown moving to general manager and Chloe Hewitt stepping into the freshly created role of group business director.

Brown has been a member of the Mango team since 2012 and his promotion, from group account director, sees him step into a position previously held by Kathy Geick.

He is excited by the new challenge and said he is thrilled to be able to lead an “amazing bunch of Mangoes”.

“We’re lucky to be able to produce amazing campaigns across our enviable client list and I’m looking forward to working with Chloe on building on our recent successes,” Brown said.

Hewitt, who steps into her role in early July, moves from Fuel Communications in Sydney where she was group account director. Born in New Zealand, she is “thrilled” to be returning.

Musical chairs

Indie creative shop Hunch has had a reshape this year. Recently, Dionne Barr was welcomed as account manager on Spark, Steph Randell jumped back into account management on Meridian Energy and Anna Reid was welcomed back as account director.

The team all report to Emma Newell who recently switched to head of account service, meanwhile founding team member and senior writer Matt Watts stepped up to a new role as head of copy.

Hunch founder Michael Goldthorpe said the team is clicking together “beautifully”.

Both clients and the team seem to love everything they’re doing. And Matt’s new role reflects his work in leading our writing team and collaborating closely with CD, Kyle Morris. This is part of our bigger picture plan to deliver more consistency to clients and free me up to focus on strategy…and lunch.”

Looking into the future

Mighty River Power has appointed a future director Nicky Ashton as part of the Institute of Directors programme.

Chair Joan Withers said this is the second time the company has appointed a future director, reflecting the confidence about the benefits of both the company and the participant.

Ashton has held a number of senior roles in consumer marketing and is currently general manager brand and marketing at Kiwibank.

The future director role enables candidates to gain valuable experience around the board table, participating in discussion and debate but not in decision-making.

Withers said Ashton is joining at an exciting time as for the business as it focuses on its new Mercury brand launch later in the year.

The appointment runs from 1 July 2016 to 31 December 2017. Withers said Carolyn Luey, the previous incumbent in the role during 2015 contributed both fresh insights and considerable professional experience to Board discussions.

Another Saffa in the mix

Pead PR is boosting its team resources with the appointment of Sarah Munnik to the role of account director.

​Munnik joins Pead PR from South Africa where she headed up the technology practice at Hill+Knowlton Strategies. In total she has more than a decade of technology and corporate communications experience.

Managing director Deborah Pead said Munnik is highly regarded for her strategic development skills, the tailoring of ‘tech talk’ for media consumption and high quality client service.

“Sarah is an exceptional addition to our tech and senior management teams bringing with her excellent and wide ranging technology experience. She is also a qualified Pilates instructor and a marathon runner.”

Munnik assumes her role from acting account director Leandri Smith who will continue to work with the Pead PR tech team on a contractual basis in order to better balance her family life.

Eleven says cheers

Eleven New Zealand is preparing for a weekend of celebrations after winning gold at the 2016 PR Asia Awards for the Sports Campaign of the year.

Managing director Angelina Farry said it's excited to take out the award.

“Our amazing team put in long hours to achieve the coverage during a time the news was dominated by the boys in black. The dedicated group even missed the World Cup Final game to capture footage from the race.”

Eleven produced a PR campaign for Les Mills titled ‘Run the Final’, and leveraged the sport scheduling clash of 2015 – the Rugby World Cup Final and the ASB Auckland Marathon.

A new recruit

Boutique agency Purple Sherbert PR has announced a new account executive as Alexia Morris joins the team.

Morris hails from a communications and hospitality background, having recently completed a bachelor or communications, majoring in public relations with a minor in journalism.

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23 years ago I did an interactive promotion with James Kwok at Saatchis for Bluebird potato chips on TV2 at 7.30 pm. Two years later I was doing websites for the likes of Sun Direct Insurance and more with Howdo. ...

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